Corn

Corn can be significantly wetter with a late harvest, resulting in higher drying costs and mechanical damage to grain. In addition, freezing temperatures occurring before normal crop maturity (i.e., prior to kernel black-layer development) also may reduce corn yields. Consider these management tips from experts at DuPont Pioneer.

A recent Reuters news article titled “Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy,” claims that some farmers have abandoned farmland-rental commitments. "It might be better to let it go and cut your acres back, cause if you lose $100 per acre on a farm have to make up that loss from other farms,” says Kent Thiesse, vice president of MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, Minn....More

If you want to test products or management ideas on your farm but don’t have the time or expertise for your own comparisons, help could be as close as your seed corn dealer. They can likely do most of the heavy lifting in setting up the trials and analyzing the results of testing nitrogen rates, plant populations, herbicides, fungicides seed varieties and more....More

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2014 estimated average county yields for corn, soybeans and other crops in late February. These yields will offer a pretty good estimate of where final Ag Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) farm program payments are likely to end up for the 2014 crop year....More

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke to farmers this week at Commodity Classic. He thanked them for their hard work, extended the deadline for base acre and yield changes, asked for their help in passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade promotion and addressed GMOs....More

Last year produced red-hot yields for Mike Rosenbohm, who farms near Graham in northwestern Missouri. His average corn yields were up 20% from his long-term average, with yields ranging from 180-225 bushels per acre. So when a narrow-row, high-population test field had a corn yield bump of 30% or more compared to nearby corn planted in 30-inch rows, he signed a contract to purchase a narrow-row planter....More

CSD Xpert and University of Minnesota professor Ed Usset says there's a 70% chance producers will see the post harvest price levels of November soybeans and December corn come this spring. "I would challenge producers to make sure you're ready to get something done," said Usset at Commodity Classic after his early riser session on the first day....More

Profit margins for crop production this year are the tightest that they have been for several years, which makes 2015 crop insurance decisions extremely important. Many farm operators are looking for ways to reduce their crop operating expenses for 2015; however, cutting back on crop insurance coverage may not be a wise decision....More

That’s money in the ditch. If it were $82 in cash, would you pull over and grab it? That’s what western Minnesota “snirt” (snow and dirt) contains in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, per acre. Multiply that by a 160-acre field and we’re talking over $13,000.

Although USDA projects that plantings will decline among the three commodities, recent reports actually suggest that many U.S. farmers may be preparing to switch more acres from corn into soybeans due to the lower costs of production. Such a scenario would lead to increases in soybean plantings for 2015....More

In the 5 ag stories to read this week, get tips for monitoring stored corn and soybeans. Read the latest Farms and Land in Farms report from USDA, showing a decline in farms and farm acres. Take a look at options for crop insurance this year, and read about healthy soil improving yield. Finally, read a farmers point of view on what farmers know when it comes to growing food.